Antique Bronze Komainu Shishi Guardian Pair | Japanese Shrine Lion-Dogs | Fine Castwork & Deep Patina | 20 cm | 4.7 kg Pair

Antique Bronze Komainu Guardian Pair

Two compact guardians, one voice: an antique bronze komainu pair cast with deliberate heft and a surface that reads like time itself. At approximately 20 cm tall (each), these shrine lion-dogs sit in an alert crouch, their bodies modeled with swirling mane and curled tail forms that echo the protective wind-scroll motifs often carved into shrine fittings and votive sculpture.

Komainu stand at the threshold. In Shinto precincts they mark the boundary between ordinary space and consecrated ground; in mixed temple-shrine contexts they also appear as general guardians of the sacred approach. They are not simply “decorative lions.” They are gatekeepers—spirit sentries—installed to repel misfortune, deter malign influence, and declare that what lies beyond is protected. The pair conventionally operates as a dual formula: one with mouth open (a-gyo) and one with mouth closed (un-gyo), a metaphor for the beginning and end of all sounds and the completeness of protection.

Iconography highlight: jewel-ball motif. This pair presents a particularly collectible silhouette: each figure is set with a jewel-ball (tama) beneath the forward paw. In broader East Asian visual language, the jewel signifies potency and auspicious power; here it is transformed into a talisman of sovereignty and guardianship.

Design reading. The modeling is energetic but disciplined: the heads are oversized in relation to the torso for a dramatic guardian presence; the brows are pronounced; the mouths are carved with enough depth to catch light and emphasize the confrontational stare; and the surface is worked with scroll textures that amplify the impression of fur and sacred turbulence.

Material and finish. Bronze guardians of this scale frequently served as altar-adjacent protectors, shrine interior guardians, or display pieces in a dedicated spiritual corner rather than monumental outdoor komainu. The current patina reads dark and warm, with areas of brighter coppery exposure and micro-wear along the highest points—exactly where handling and decades of placement would naturally polish the metal.

Period note (conservatively framed). The listing attributes an early period; however, without hands-on examination of casting seams, core-pin evidence, interior tool marks, and alloy analysis, the precise era must be treated as unconfirmed. Stylistically, the compact proportions, dramatic facial treatment, and jewel-ball motif are consistent with late Edo through early 20th-century revival tastes. We therefore position this as a likely late Edo–Meiji–Taisho range, offered with confidence notes below.

Condition

Age-related wear is present. Expect surface rubbing, minor scuffs, and small marks consistent with a heavy bronze object of this size. Please review images for exact surface character. No accessories are noted.

Collector relevance

A matched pair in bronze with jewel-ball motif offers a rare combination of visual impact, shrine association, and a complete “pair” narrative in one acquisition—ideal for collectors of shrine objects, Japanese metalwork, or guardian iconography.

Collector’s Resonance

For collectors of shrine and temple objects; for designers building a Japanese wabi-luxe study; for admirers of protective symbolism; and for anyone assembling a threshold display—pairing guardians with incense, an offering tray, or a single seasonal branch.

Measurements (approx.)

• Height (each): 20 cm
• Width (each): 20 cm
• Total pair weight: 4,700 g

Confidence & Verification Notes

Period and alloy are not laboratory-verified. All era statements are stylistic inferences from visible form, patina behavior, and common production histories for objects of this type.